There were two all-Simcoe NSSAA soccer finals played Friday afternoon, the girls at Holy Trinity at the same time the Sabres and Titans boys rosters clashed at SCS.

Two very different games produced the same result – the Sabres claiming the county championship

Girls

In looking to win their third straight title, Simcoe coach Anne Busk's team didn't exactly come out firing. In fact, the Titans got on the board in the opening minutes thanks to a penalty kick goal off the foot of Ling Li Wong.

Holy Trinity kept the pressure on for much of the first half but Sabres keeper Tori Lewis was up to the task. The Titans were assessed a red card in the second half, and the Sabres took full advantage.

Hanna Patrick tied the contest before the end of regulation, then Michelle Goble added a breakaway marker in the first half of a 20 minute overtime session. Kaitlyn Courrier followed suit in the second with a long, arching shot from a sharp angle to give Simcoe some insurance, and an eventual 3-1 victory.

“We just kept our heads up,” said Goble. “They did come out and get the first goal but we knew it wasn't (because of) how we were playing. We kept strong, kept forcing it and played really strong defensively and offensively, which worked well against them with all their strong players.”

Goble said the confidence shown by Lewis between the pipes spread throughout the roster.

Lewis was impressed with the way her team stepped up in the extra session, an effort that earned coach Busk her first three-peat as Sabres skipper.

“Before overtime, we got our heads in the game, started working harder and made sure that we won this game because we really wanted it,” Lewis said before addressing her team's current streak.

“It's wonderful. The first year I wasn't part of it because I was in Grade 9 and I didn't want to play but in Grade 10 and 11 I was here and it's been a great time.”

The Sabres will welcome the Paris Panthers for a CWOSSA double-A play-in game May 23 at 9:30 a.m.

Boys

Just before his team took the field on Friday, Sabres co-captain Tyler Kozak was asked to address the squad.

His message was simple.

“Just, 'this is our house, don't let them take it from us',” Kozak explained.

“I don't know if it worked or not but it seemed liked it did.”

Kozak led by example with a pair of goals and was joined on the scoresheet by Trey Jackson and Brodie Robinson. 'Big Al' Alex Forde was flawless in net and it all equalled a 4-0 Simcoe victory.

The first of Kozak's goals came from the sideline on a throw-in. The second was more conventional – a scorcher from long distance in what became the second Sabres title in three seasons.

“You know what, with the home field advantage we know how the ball bounces – it's terrible (here),” Kozak smiled. “We played the bounces and came out with the win.”

Kozak and his teammates will look to carry their momentum into a CWOSSA play-in game vs. the Pauline Johnson Thunderbirds in Brantford Tuesday morning.

“We've just got to get past the CWOSSA qualifier, that's all we're focused on right now,” Kozak said.